What is Early Intervention Family Support?
Our Early Intervention Consultants assist the families of pre-school children on the autism spectrum through the different stages of their development by providing advice, referral and consultation with regard to early intervention supports.
Autism SA’s Early Intervention Consultants support families and early childhood educators in the development of pre-school children on the autism spectrum.
Our family-centred early intervention specialists utilise evidence-based strategies to work in collaboration with the team around your child, including other members of the family, early childhood educators and other professionals.
We work together to encourage everyday learning and help generalise new skills across home, child care, preschool, playgroups and in the community. Support can be provided at home, in an early childhood education and care setting, or at an Autism SA site.
How can I benefit from early intervention?
Early Intervention Consultants provide support, skills and strategies in a wide range of areas including, but not limited to:
- Managing behaviours of concern
- Self-help skill development
- Development of communication skills
- Social development and play skills
- Separation / transitioning / coping with change, and
- Supporting sensory needs.
In addition, our team can support the team around the child in:
- Determining the child’s abilities and goal setting
- Promoting the child’s learning and participation
- Positive behaviour support, and
- Participation in education review/planning meetings.
How can I access the service?
Families are referred to our Early Intervention Consultants by the Autism SA Diagnostic Team. We then make contact and arrange a Newly Diagnosed Support meeting.
For families in regional areas, the My Pathways team offers Newly Diagnosed Support meetings by telephone or video call. We also provide consultations by telephone for teachers in regional preschool centers.
Following a Newly Diagnosed Support meeting, parents can then contact our Early Intervention Consultants directly, or the My Pathways team on 1300 288 476 or at mypathways@autismsa.org.au.
Our Early Intervention Consultant support in homes or clinics may be accessed via MAC funding, NDIS Plan or Fee for service options.
An Early Childhood setting can also submit a Request for service for support from our team funded through Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students with Disabilities (MAC), State Government Grant funding, which is free to parents and preschool centers.
